Structure for removing air from a baby nurser

ABSTRACT

Structure for and a method of purging air from a baby nurser is disclosed including a dowel, a base on one end of the dowel and a cylindrical member on the other end of the dowel. The cylindrical member is adapted to be received in the open end of a baby nurser having a plastic baby food liner therein to apply pressure to the liner for purging the nurser of air prior to feeding a baby. The structure for purging air from a baby nurser may be dismantled for packaging and storing and is constructed to prevent pinching of the liner of the baby nurser.

United States Patent Grobbel 1 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] STRUCTURE FOR REMOVING AIR Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton Att0rneyWhitternore, Hulbert & Belknap [57] ABSTRACT Structure for and a method of purging air from a baby nurser is disclosed including a dowel, a base on one end of the dowel and a cylindrical member on the other end of the dowel. The cylindrical member is adapted to be received in the open end of a baby nurser having a plastic baby food liner therein to apply pressure to the liner for purging the nurser of air prior to feeding a baby. The structure for purging air from a baby nurser may be dismantled for packaging and storing and is constructed to prevent pinching of the liner of the baby nurser.

4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMAR 1 m2 3. 648 87 a FIGJ 2o 1 M FIG-.2

INVENTOR. SYLVESTER J. GROBBEL Y 2 1%? My ATTORNEYS STRUCTURE FOR REMOVING AIR FROM A BABY NURSER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to baby nursers of the type including a flexible liner for receiving baby food secured within a cylindrical shell having both ends open and a nipple defining a food chamber in conjunction with the liner, and refers more particularly to structure for and a method of purging air from the chamber defined by the flexible liner and nipple to prevent intake of air by babies when feeding.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, baby nursers have been known which include a rigid cylindrical outer shell open at both ends for which there is provided disposable flexible liners adapted to receive baby food. The liners are closed at one end and are secured at the other end thereof about one end of the outer shell by a nipple or the like. With such devices, a food chamber is formed between the nipple and liner which initially includes entrapped air along with the food, since the nipple is empty when applied to the baby nurser. The desirability of purging air from the food chamber of such nursers before feeding a baby has been recognized in the past, with at least one manufacturer suggesting inserting fingers in the open end of the assembled nurser to apply pressure on the liner and thus force the air out of the nipple. The use of a spoon or such article for applying pressure on the liner in place of the fingers by people having short fingers has also been suggested.

Such air-purging structure and method is deficient in many respects. Thus, for example, the food liners which are generally plastic and particularly thin may be pinched and/or punctured by such structure and method. In addition, it is particularly difficult to effect such air purging while holding a baby in the usual manner for feeding. Also, initial purging of air from the usual nurser is not sufficient. Each time nursing is stopped and particularly when the nurser is rested on its open end, air is drawn back through the nipple into the food chamber between the nipple and liner so that when nursing is again started, air will be taken in by the baby along with food.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, there is provided structure for purging air from a nurser having an open end and a flexible liner including a separate dowel and a flat rectangular base, and a cylindrical member adapted to be secured to opposite ends of the dowel. The structure provided for purging air from nursers may be dismantled for convenience in packaging and storing.

In use, the nurser is placed over the end of the cylindrical member of the device for purging air from the nurser, and the liner is pressed against the cylindrical member until the air has been purged from the nurser. Initial feeding of the baby may then be accomplished. Each time nursing is stopped, the nurser should be replaced on the cylindrical member so that the force of gravity on the nurser will prevent air from reentering the chamber between the liner and nipple of the nurser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the structure for purging air from a baby nurser in use.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevation view of the structure for purging air from a baby nurser with the base indicated in section and with the baby nurser shown in conjunction therewith in partial longitudinal section substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The structure for purging air from the baby bottle or nurser 12 includes a rectangular base 14 which is secured to one end of a dowel 16. The other end of the dowel 16 is secured to a cylindrical member 18.

The structure for securing the base 14 to the dowel 16 includes a two-diameter opening 20 through the base 14 substantially centrally thereof. The opening 20 has a lower threaded portion 22 which is constructed to receive a threaded portion 24 on the end of the dowel 16.

A threaded recess 26 is provided centrally of the cylindrical member 18 and receives the threaded upper end of the dowel 16 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The cylindrical member 18 is pro vided with a beveled upper edge 28.

The base 14, dowel l6 and cylindrical member 18 of the structure 10 for purging air from the nurser 12, as shown, may be constructed of wood, plastic or suitable metal, as desired. Alternatively, the separate elements of the structure 10 may be constructed of separate materials so that, for example, the

base 14 might be wood, the dowel 16 might be metal, and the cylindrical member 18 plastic.

The nurser 12, as particularly shown in FIG. 2, includes an outer cylindrical shell 30 having open ends, an inner flexible liner 32, the end 34 of which is open and is adapted to fit over one end of the shell 30. The liner 32 is secured within the shell 30 by means of the nipple 36 having the opening 38 therein through which air and food in the chamber between the liner and nipple may pass.

It will be particularly noted that the radial dimension of the cylindrical member 18 is such in relation to the inner diameter of the shell 30 as to be of generally the same magnitude but is not sufficient to permit ready pinching of the liner between the cylindrical member and the shell. Pinching of the liner 32 is also inhibited by the beveled edge 28 on the cylindrical member 18.

In using the air-purging structure 10, the nurser is first filled with food in the usual manner, at which time there will be air trapped in the chamber between the food in the liner 32 and the nipple 36. Then, in place of the prior operation of pressing the air out of the nurser with the fingers in contact with the liner 32, which might easily result in puncturing the liner 32 and requires two hands, one to hold the nurser l2 and the other to press the air from the liner, which does not permit holding of the baby to be fed during this operation without undesirable contortions, the nurser is held in one hand and placed over the cylindrical member 28 to engage the liner 32 with the cylindrical member 28. Then, slight pressure is placed on the nurser, forcing it toward the base 14 until all of the air is expelled from the nurser 12 due to contact of the liner 32 with the cylindrical member 18. Feeding of the baby may then be initiated without danger of the baby taking in air.

Should for any reason it be desired to stop feeding the baby for any period of time, instead of setting the nurser on a flat surface as in the past, in which case air is again drawn into the chamber between the nipple and liner 32, the nurser 12 is merely rested on the cylindrical member 18 so that gravity acting on the nurser l2 prevents air from reentering the nurser. Feeding may then be again started immediately without the necessity of again expelling air from the nurser.

To facilitate the resting of the nurser 12 on the structure 10, the cylindrical member 18 may be of any convenient length longitudinally of the dowel 16, or a separate spacing disc 40 or radially extending dowels may be provided which will tend to maintain the nurser l2 and dowel 16 axially aligned.

For initial packaging, the base 14, dowel l6, and cylindrical member 18 may be disassembled. The disassembly feature of the structure 10 is also advantageous in storing the structure 10 after use.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination a baby nurser including an outer shell open at both ends, a resilient liner for baby food closed at one end and secured to one end of the shell at the other end for receiving baby food, and a nipple extending over the one end of the shell and the other end of the liner and structure for purging air from the baby nurser including a dowel, a base for holding the dowel in an upright position, means for securing the base to one end of the dowel, a cylindrical member adapted to be received within the other end of the shell and to engage the liner within the shell to force air in the liner out of the nipple due to the weight of the baby nurser and food therein and means for securing the cylindrical member to the other end of the dowel.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical member is of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the shell so as to place the cylindrical member and shell in spaced apart relation with the cylindrical member positioned within the shell and concentric therewith to prevent pinching the liner between the cylindrical member and shell. 

1. In combination a baby nurser including an outer shell open at both ends, a resilient liner for baby food closed at one end and secured to one end of the shell at the other end for receiving baby food, and a nipple extending over the one end of the shell and the other end of the liner and structure for purging air from the baby nurser including a dowel, a base for holding the dowel in an upright position, means for securing the base to one end of the dowel, a cylindrical member adapted to be received within the other end of the shell and to engage the liner within the shell to force air in the liner out of the nipple due to the weight of the baby nurser and food therein and means for securing the cylindrical member to the other end of the dowel.
 2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical member is of smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the shell so as to place the cylindrical member and shell in spaced apart relation with the cylindrical member positioned within the shell and concentric therewith to prevent pinching the liner between the cylindrical member and shell.
 3. Structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cylindrical member is provided with a beveled edge at the end thereof in contact with the liner with the cylindrical member within the shell to prevent pinching of the liner between the cylindrical member and shell.
 4. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the base is a substantially flat member and the means for securing the base and cylindrical member to the dowel are releasable means whereby the base and cylindrical member may be removed from the dowel and replaced thereon. 